How to Factory Reset Your Phone Without Losing Data

We have all been there. Your phone is acting weird. Maybe apps are crashing, the battery is draining fast, or the screen freezes for no reason. You know a Factory Reset would fix it, but you are terrified.

You are afraid of losing your photos, your chats, your contacts, and all those memories you have saved for years.

Here is the truth: A real Factory Reset will delete everything. That is its job. It wipes the phone clean to make it like new.

But don’t panic. In 2025, there are two ways to fix your phone without losing a single file.

1. The “Lite” Reset: A hidden setting that fixes bugs without deleting photos.
2. The “Safe” Loop: A smart way to backup, wipe, and restore everything automatically.

This guide will show you exactly how to do both on Android and iPhone.

Option 1: The “Lite” Reset (Try This First!)

Before you wipe your whole phone, you should try a Settings Reset. This is a “magic” button that most people don’t know about.

It deletes your Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth connections, and weird settings that might be causing bugs. However, it keeps your photos, apps, messages, and contacts safe. This fixes 80% of phone problems.

For iPhone Users (iOS)

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to General.
3. Scroll down to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset.
5. IMPORTANT: Choose “Reset All Settings”.
   • Do NOT choose “Erase All Content and Settings”.
6. Your iPhone will restart. You will have to reconnect to your Wi-Fi and setup FaceID again, but all your photos and apps will still be there.

For Samsung & Android Users

1. Open Settings.
2. Search for “Reset”.
3. Look for an option called Reset All Settings (or “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth”).
4. Tap it and confirm.
5. Your phone will restart with default system settings, but your gallery and apps remain untouched.

Option 2: The Full Factory Reset (The Safe Way)

If the “Lite” reset didn’t work, you need to do a full Factory Reset. To do this without losing data, we will use the “Backup Sandwich” method:

1. Backup (Save everything to the cloud).
2. Reset (Wipe the phone).
3. Restore (Put everything back).

Here is how to do it properly for your specific phone.

If You Have a Samsung Phone (The Best Method)

Samsung has a new feature in 2024-2025 called Temporary Cloud Backup. It gives you unlimited cloud storage for 30 days, specifically for resetting your phone.

Step 1: The Unlimited Backup

1. Go to Settings > General Management.
2. Tap Maintenance Mode or look for Temporary Cloud Backup.
3. Tap Backup Data.
4. Select “All data” and hit Back up.
5. Wait for it to finish. It will save everything, even if you have 200GB of photos.

Step 2: The Wipe

1. Go to Settings > General Management > Reset.
2. Tap Factory Data Reset.
3. Enter your PIN and confirm. The phone will erase everything.

Step 3: The Restore

1. Turn on your “new” clean phone.
2. Sign in with your Samsung Account.
3. It will ask if you want to restore your data. Select the Temporary Backup you just made.
4. Watch as your photos, apps, and home screen layout return exactly as they were.

If You Have an iPhone

Apple makes this easy with iCloud, but you need enough space.

Step 1: The Backup

1. Go to Settings and tap your Name (at the top).
2. Tap iCloud > iCloud Backup.
3. Tap Back Up Now.
   • Note: If you don’t have enough space, Apple sometimes offers “Temporary iCloud Storage” when you update iOS. Check for a prompt that says “Get Extra iCloud Storage to Move Data.”

Step 2: The Wipe

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
3. Enter your password. Your iPhone will go black and reset.

Step 3: The Restore

1. When the iPhone turns on, follow the “Hello” screen steps.
2. When you see the “Apps & Data” screen, choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
3. Sign in with your Apple ID.
4. Your phone will download your photos and apps in the background.

If You Have a Google Pixel / Other Android

For most other Android phones, Google One is your best friend.

Step 1: The Backup

1. Open Settings > Google > Backup.
2. Make sure “Photos & Videos” is turned ON.
3. Tap Back up now.
4. Wait until the progress bar finishes.

Step 2: The Wipe

1. Go to Settings > System > Reset Options.
2. Tap Erase all data (factory reset).
3. Confirm the choice.

Step 3: The Restore

1. Turn on the phone.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in with your Google Account.
3. Google will ask: “Do you want to restore data from an old device?”
4. Say Yes and select your cloud backup.

3 Things You Must Check Before You Reset

Even with a backup, there are three “secret” things that often get lost. Check these manually before you hit the reset button:

1. Authenticator Apps Do you use Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator for work or school?

• The Fix: Open the app and turn on “Cloud Sync” inside the app settings. If you don’t do this, you might get locked out of your accounts.

2. WhatsApp & Chat Apps WhatsApp does not always backup with the main phone backup.

• The Fix: Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Tap Back Up Now and wait for it to hit 100%.

3. Secret/Locked Folders If you have a “Locked Folder” in Google Photos or a “Secure Folder” on Samsung, these are never backed up to the cloud for security reasons.

• The Fix: Move the photos out of the secure folder into the normal gallery, back them up, and then lock them again after you reset the phone.

Summary Checklist

• [ ] Try a “Reset All Settings” first (It fixes bugs without deleting data).
• [ ] Check your Cloud Storage (Make sure you have enough space).
• [ ] Sync your WhatsApp manually.
• [ ] Know your Passwords (You will need your Google/Apple password to get your data back!).
• [ ] Charge your phone to at least 80% before resetting.

By following these steps, you can clean your phone, make it faster, and fix annoying glitches without losing a single precious memory.